2010 Boat Law Changes
Arizona has instituted a temporary 1% sales tax increase, bringing the state rate to 6.6%. This increase is set to
expire May 31, 2013. California raised its mandatory lifejacket age; now all children under age 13 are required to
wear life preservers aboard. Florida placed an $18,000 cap on sales tax from the sale of a boat. Kansas also
raised the state sales tax 1%, to 6.3%. Louisiana passed legislation requiring anyone born after January 1, 1984 to
complete a NASBLA-approved course in order to operate a motorboat with more than 10 horsepower. Maryland now requires
everyone under the age of 16 to have a certificate of boating safety education. The state also raised the mandatory
lifejacket age from 7 to 13 years of age, for children on boats less than 21 feet. North Carolina now mandates that
everyone under 26 years of age must complete a NASBLA-approved course to operate a motorboat with more than 10 horsepower.
Vermont now requires its boater safety education classes to educaton boaters on the problems caused by invasive species,
and how to prevent those problems by cleaning.
PROVISIONS BELOW:
Arizona: temporary increase the sales tax by 1% to 6.6%. This increase is set to expire May 31, 2013.
California: Mandatory lifejacket age increased from 11 to 13.
Florida: set a max $18k cap on sales tax for boats.
Kansas: increase the sales tax by 1% to 6.3%. This increase is effective July 1, 2010.
Louisiana: anyone born after January 1, 1984 must have completed NASBLA approves course to operate motorboat
w/ 10 horsepower or more. This law is effective July 1, 2010.
Maryland:
1. Anyone under the age of 16 must have a certificate of boating safety education.
2. Mandatory lifejacket age requirement has been raised from 7 to 13 years for children on board boats less than 21 feet.
North Carolina: everyone under 26 must complete NASBLA-approved course in order to operate boat w/ more than
10 horsepower. This law is effective May 1, 2010.
Vermont: Added provision to boater education course:
ensure that the course includes an educational component regarding the environmental harm caused by aquatic
nuisance species and how the spread of such species may be controlled when boaters follow specific steps to
clean boats and trailers after use in state waters.
This addition is effective July 1, 2010.